Accessibility
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Accessibility at Pride in London 2024
At Pride in London, we strive to create an inclusive and accessible event for all. Our goal is to ensure that everyone who wants to attend can do so comfortably.
Registration for Access Wristband
Background
At Pride in London, we are dedicated to fostering an environment of accessibility and inclusivity for all attendees at our event. We take a proactive and respectful manner to create an environment where everyone, regardless of ability, feels fully included. From accommodating diverse needs to ensuring equal participation opportunities, we prioritise creating an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome and valued.
To provide the best possible experience, we ask that everyone who wishes to use the access facilities at Pride in London complete and submit an Access Registration Form. We need your registration for access in advance to ensure your needs and accommodations can be adequately met. The following are some key reasons why we need your registrations:
Accessibility Planning & Resource Allocation: We need to estimate the needs of our participants to better allocate resources and to tailor our access facilities and services, including the capacity of our safe spaces.
Volunteers Preparedness: Registering in advance allows us to be prepared to assist disabled participants effectively, including training volunteers and wayfinding.
Safety and Emergency Preparedness: In the event of an emergency, such as an evacuation, your registration allows us for better emergency planning and ensures that everyone can safely exit, especially those who may need assistance.
Partnership with Nimbus
Our partnership with Nimbus Disability's Access Card Scheme allows us to understand better and provide reasonable adjustments for access requirements across our event spaces. Nimbus offers greater privacy without needing to carry supporting documents. This partnership allows us to validate access requirements, provide reasonable adjustments, and protect against potential misuse.
Nimbus’s Access Card is a multiple-award-winning scheme run by disabled people, for disabled people. It is a universal proof of access requirements scheme, which is accepted and recognised at thousands of events, venues and attractions across the UK and beyond.
To obtain an Access card, you can apply for a FREE card exclusively for Pride in London which is valid for 3 years or upgrade your card to be transferable to any other organisation at £15 valid for 3 years, which means that your access requirements are pre-registered at 2,500 venues and events in the UK and beyond.
How to Apply
Step 1: Validation with Nimbus Disability Access Card
You will need to provide personal information and upload validating evidence about your access requirements.
After submitting your application, you will receive confirmation and your Nimbus Access ID Number.
Step 2: Register Access at Pride in London
We provide a series of access facilities and services throughout the day. To secure your access accommodation, please submit only your Nimbus Access ID Number NOT the confirmation number to register for access accommodations.
Application Deadline: 31st May 2024, 6:00pm
Need Help?
For help applying for your Access Card, visit the Access Card Support Page. If you are not able to use online forms and would be unable, because of the nature of your impairment, to access online sales you do still need to register. Nimbus will be able to assist with telephone registration on 0330 808 5108.
Enquiry to Pride in London: [email protected] or call us on 07519 749 192 (available Monday to Friday, 10:00-14:00).
Accreditation for Best Practice
Pride in London is an event that holds Silver Status by Attitude is Everything on their Charter of Best Practice, the highest award available. We are committed to retaining this level and improving accessibility each year.
Attitude is Everything improves Deaf and disabled people’s access to live music by working in partnership with audiences, artists and the music industry. To know more about Attitude is Everything, click HERE.
How to travel to Pride
Depending on where you want to go, below you'll find the closest stops for key locations during Pride.
By tube
Start of Parade Route - Hyde Park Corner:
Green Park 700m
Piccadilly Circus 1400m
Charing Cross 2200m
Parade Access Safe Space - Hertford Street:
Green Park 500m
Trafalgar Square Stage:
Charing Cross 210m
Embankment 400m
Leicester Square Stage - (LGBTQIA+ Women & Non-Binary) :
Leicester Square 180m
Embankment Gardens (Family Area):
Embankment 100m
Golden Square Stage:
Piccadilly Circus 300m
Soho Square:
Tottenham Court Rd. 800m
To check which tube stations are step-free and for further information on accessibility and the tube, visit the TFL website.
By car
We have a small number of free accessible parking places at the Q-Park in Chinatown. Please note Q-Park closes at 10am due to road closures being put in place. Please complete the access requirements form above to apply for one of our limited places. The maximum height for vehicles is 1.98m (6ft 5in), although we will try to find another parking area if your vehicle is too tall. Our shuttle bus can then take you to the Parade Access Safe Space or Trafalgar Square.
Access shuttle bus
Two wheelchair accessible shuttle buses will be available on the day to help people with access needs get to main areas on our footprint. These will run approx every 30 minutes between 8:00am - 10:45am.
To use this service, please submit your Nimbus Access ID Number to Pride in London.
Once your registration has been approved for our Shuttle Bus, please see below for map, timings and pick up points:
Bus A
08:00 - Kings Cross Pick Up (see map)
08:45 - Charing Cross Pick Up (see map)
09:15 - Parade Drop off at Parade Access Safe Space (Hertford Street)
10:00 - Kings Cross Pick up
10:45 - Charing Cross Pick Up
11:15 - Parade Drop off at Parade Access Safe Space (Hertford Street)
For a more detailed map please follow this link
The bus will be clearly marked with Pride signs in the windows and our Access volunteers (with bright orange T-shirts) on-board.
Accessibility at the parade
Watching the parade
On the Parade route we have an accessible viewing area next to the Grandstand on Haymarket SW1Y.
Joining the parade
We offer a Parade Safe Space for anyone who identifies as Deaf or disabled or has additional access requirements. Located near the front in a quieter section of the parade, we have a hop-on hop-off wheelchair accessible bus and a fantastic team of trained access volunteers and BSL interpreters. We are also assistance dog friendly.
Access Assembly Point
Please pre-register for any access accommodations you require using your Nimbus Access Card or Pride in London Access Registration ID number. Please be aware spaces are limited and will be offered on a first come, first serve basis.
The access assembly point is Hertford Street. Check our travel tips above for more information on how to get there.
Our volunteers and a BSL interpreter will be available from 10:30am to welcome you and answer any questions you may have about the rest of your day.The Parade is scheduled to start at 12pm mid-day, we join approximately 15 minutes after it has started. You will need to be at the Access Assembly Point by 12pm to ensure you can join the parade safe space.
There will be an accessible toilet available at the assembly point.
Our Access Volunteers are there to help us move from the access assembly point into the parade. Volunteers also travel the route of the parade with you.
Although we are at a quieter section of the parade, it is still very noisy and as we travel the Parade route spectators will be clapping and cheering. We do not allow whistles or megaphones in the Safe Space as we want to reduce the immediate noise for people in our group with sensory sensitivities and assistance animals.
You are welcome to bring banners with you but our volunteers cannot help you carry them.
Once the parade has started, if you wish to leave you can do so at set points, but it is not possible to re-join, so if you have plans to meet friends arrange to do so when you reach Trafalgar Square.
It takes approximately 2 hours to travel the parade route.
We do have a shuttle bus that will travel with us that can be used for rest, or as somewhere quieter to experience the parade from. The shuttle continues with the Safe Space to Trafalgar Square – again with our volunteers on board.
Arriving at Trafalgar Square from the Parade
When the Parade reaches Suffolk Place, the Access Safe Space will leave the Parade.
Access volunteers will then lead the group to the Trafalgar Square viewing platform where we have a direct view of the stage, speech to text and BSL interpreters on the screens.
We also have a ‘changing places’ mobiloo toilet, a wheelchair charging point, a rest area for assistance animals and a quiet rest tent if space away from the crowds is needed.
Accessibility at our stages
Trafalgar Square
Viewing platform
We offer an accessible viewing platform in Trafalgar Square which will be right in the heart of the square on the North Terrace, staffed by a dedicated Access Manager and volunteer stewards, with support from our Security provider.
Pre-apply for any access provisions you require using our access requirements form above. Please be aware spaces are limited and will be offered on a first come, first serve basis.
We want to ensure everyone can enjoy the event together. Personal Assistants, Support Workers, Carers, Family, or Friends (maximum of 2 additional person) are welcome to accompany those with access requirements.
Your wristband will give you access to the viewing areas and toilet, so you can come and go as you please, subject to availability on the day.
Due to the structure limitations, it will not be possible to provide cover from adverse weather conditions, so please bring an umbrella (and if needed, an umbrella clamp) that can be used to shelter from rain or excess heat!
In Trafalgar Square we also provide:
Assistance dog rest area
Wheelchair charging point
Quiet tent (which can be used for rest or as somewhere quieter to have a break from the event- this is not soundproof. A live feed from the main stage will be screened inside the tent)
Accessible toilet next to the viewing platform.
Induction loop running around the entire viewing platform
Roaming BSL Interpreter
Changing Places Unit
First Aid point
Trafalgar Square
On the Trafalgar Square stage, we will have a BSL interpreter. The screens will have both an interpreter, and a live speech-to-text service.
Leicester Square
For the LGBTQIA+ Women’s stage in Leicester Square we will have a BSL interpreter, an accessible viewing area with seating and accessible toilets.
Golden Square
For the stage in Golden Square we will have a BSL interpreter. Accessible toilets will be available. A trained Access Manager and Stewards will also be available.
Family Area
For the Family Area, there will be a viewing area, accessible toilets and a trained Access Manager and Stewards.
Soho Square
For the Trans stage in Soho Square we will have a BSL interpreter, an accessible viewing area with seating and accessible toilets. A trained Access Manager and Stewards will also be available.
Volunteering
At Pride in London we welcome volunteers with disabilities either as support on-the-day to help with a variety of roles like parade stewards, wheel stewards, way-finders, fundraisers and more to keep the events running smoothly.
As well as, on-the-day volunteering we also have a core team of dedicated volunteers who have been working throughout the year to organise Pride in London. It's not just the parade, it's a year of advocacy, lifelong friendship and parties along the way and everyone is welcome.
Our ways of working are inclusive by design but if you require any reasonable accommodations throughout the process please do let us know.
FAQ
Will there be accessible toilets available?
Yes! We have accessible toilet facilities around the event as well as a changing place unit located at Trafalgar Square. To use these facilities, please pre-register for an Access wristband.
Is there disabled access parking?
We have a limited number of bays at Q park Chinatown, pre-apply here to reserve a spot. Please be aware, this is on a first come, first served basis.
Do I need tickets?
No, you don’t need tickets to attend; however, we highly recommend you to pre-register for an Access wristband to use any access provisions.